Anlong Veng is a district and small town in the Oddar Meanchey province of North-western Cambodia. Its main claim to notability is its connection to the later days of the Khmer Rouge. Pol Pot, Ta Mok, Son Sen and Khiev Samphan, the leaders of the organization, all had homes here. The district also holds the graves of Pol Pot and Ta Mok, as well as the remnants of the structure where Pol Pot was convicted of 'crimes against the Cambodian people.' What might otherwise be an overly morbid itinerary is redeemed by the stunning mountain scenery. There is a border crossing with Thailand's Si Saket Province 13 km north of Anlong Veng town.

Contents

Understand

Anlong Veng is at a crossroads, literally and perhaps metaphorically. Once its inaccessibility made it attractive to Khmer Rouge fugitives, it is now at the hub of four glorious asphalt highways which blaze trails through the undeveloped hinterland of North-western Cambodia. Highway 67 runs north to Choam and the border with Chong Sa-Ngam in Thailand bringing an influx of traders. It continues south to Siem Reap and its temples. The more recently completed east-west highway connects the town with its provincial capital, Samraong, in the west and the disputed Preah Vihear temples in the east.

The town is centred on a roundabout near the market, this is where the road to Preah Vihear meets Highway 67. The town spreads north towards the man-made lake (see below) and the junction of the road to Samraong.

Get in

By bus

Next to the roundabout are the offices of G.S.T and Angkor Paramount Transport which both run buses to and from Siem Reap (2 hours, $4, twice daily), and Sra Em (1 hour, once daily) for Preah Vihear.
Siem Reap bus departs 07:00.

By taxi

Share-taxis and pick-up trucks connect with Siem Reap (2 hours), Samraong (1 hr), Tbeng Meanchey (2 hr) and others. The four main roads to Anlong Veng are now all sealed.

On the Thai side, the international border crossing is at the border of Surin Province and Si Saket Province and is accessible from either. The nearest town is Khu Khan in Si Saket Province. A bus leaves from Moh Chit station in Bangkok at 08:00 and arrives at Ku Khan around 15:00. From there you can hire a motorbike taxi for 400 baht or car to make the hour long journey to the border. Note that this is a rarely travelled border by travellers/tourists so options are limited unless you agree a deal with immigration staff who have the connections. Transport from the Cambodian side/Cho-Am is 700 baht for a car. Probably not the best idea to even try to negotiate the price by walking away as there really is nowhere else to go and the locals know it. Although, from the border post to Anlong Veng is mostly downhill, so if you're up for a pleasant walk, it's not that bad. Walking uphill from Anlong Veng to the border might be a very tiring venture (but possible if you don't mind that sort of thing).

From Surin train station to the border takes about 1.5 hr On the Cambodian side, moto-taxis and pick-up trucks are available in the tiny bazaar.

Get around

The town itself is easy enough to cover on foot. Moto-taxis are eager to take the town's few visitors to the sites listed below for $7-15. If haggling isn't your strong point and you're not desperate to see every last heap that has a connection with the KR, better prices can be had by taking on a motorbike driver for one-way journeys only. A moto to or from the border area should only be $3-4. Figure to spend about 3-4 hours to see all of the sights mentioned on this page. The sights in town can be reached on foot. Plenty of drivers hang about at the border so don't fear being stranded.

See

The below sights are either within the town or about 14 km up in the hills near the Choam border point. If you're going to the border (or leaving it) these sights are more or less on the way and could even be combined with an exit/entry journey saving both time and money. Expect to pay $2 entrance fee for both Ta Mok's house and Pol Pot's grave.

In the hills

This a considerable distance away from the main road in Cho-Am and the dirt path that leads there is on the same road that Pol Pot is buried on. Some of the villagers will try to beg from you once they have gotten over their initial surprise of seeing a foreigner in the middle of nowhere.

Pol Pot's House/Bunker: Not much left here but a shell of a house, overgrown with foliage and 'decorated' with profane graffiti. Water storage tanks, an underground chamber and a nearby pond round off the excitement. The motorcycle ride to the site is the real attraction, passing through field and jungle in the Damrek Mountains. You will see Cambodia's iconic 'Danger! Mines!' signs on many of the trees; do not, under any circumstances, venture off the road! Unfortunately, these mines are still regularly killing and maiming Cambodians.

Ta Mok's Mountain House: Graffiti artists have been at it again with this little shell - this time, mostly young lovers proclaiming their eternal fidelity. Considering the amazing views from this site, it's not surprising that it should have become a regular 'make-out hill!' Oddly enough, there are not one but two tiny spirit houses nearby - ostensibly, recent additions. A guesthouse has also been built less than 100 metres away, taking advantage of the view. Those who don't fancy a night up here can relax with a beer in one of the many hammocks. (The landmine warning applies to the road here as well.)

Pol Pot's Grave: Prepare to be underwhelmed! A tin roof and a sign urging visitors to keep the area clean are all the tribute given to Brother Number One by his country. Oddly enough, a Thai lottery winner has erected a spirit house on the site in honour of the former Khmer Rouge leader, who, he claims, appeared to him in a dream with the winning numbers. A small pack of children often materialises when visitors arrive.

In Anlong Veng town

Ta Mok's Town House: The best-preserved of the KR houses, Ta Mok's house in town overlooks the eerie lake that Brother Number Four created himself. Murals of Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear, as well as a map of Cambodia and a strangely bucolic scene of bathing elephants decorate the walls and are, as yet, undamaged by graffiti. For extra fun, see if you can count all the toilets in the various buildings. Also of note are the tiger cages at the front of the house that were apparently placed there to vilify Ta Mok further in the eyes of the world and what appears to be either a propaganda truck or prison wagon. The track to the house is about 1 km north of roundabout on the road to the border.

Anlong Veng Lake and Spillway: This man-made lake was conceived and carried out by Ta Mok. Many large trees were killed by the flooding, and their trunks jut skywards like huge gray bones. The lake itself is unsettling to look at, but local people love the spillway created in the rainy season. Fishing, boating and the general splashing around are all on tap here, with just as many spectators as participants.
About 500 m north of the roundabout, the road comes very close to the lake.

Between the two

Ta Mok's Grave: Visited the day after his burial, Ta Mok's gravesite seems poised to become a much more grand monument than Pol Pot's. It's about 7 km north of town.

Do

An interesting few hours can be spent touring all the above sites, with plenty of vista stops and little encounters with surprisingly friendly local people. Moto-taxi drivers can arrange an itinerary.
If you really want an in depth tour about the Khmer Rouge activity in this area then Mr Rottana, who works at the war museum in Siem Reap, can organise tours. He's a former Khmer Rouge and Cambodian army soldier who's brother in law was Ta Mok's bodyguard. He can be contacted on +85 886216000.

Over Pol Pot's dead body there will be a casino in Anlong Veng. And so there is: in Choam, opposite Brother Number One's final resting place (give or take relic looters) is a casino resort. The casino is up and running, the adjoining resort is still under construction.

Buy

The market has the requisite cheap clothing, rambutans and motorcycle parts. There are a few pharmacies.

There is an ATM at the ACLeda Bank, east of the central roundabout. Note, however, that this is only Visa-friendly, not Mastercard.

Eat

Khmer rice plates can be bought in various places; just look for the lidded silver cookpots, have a peek inside them and point at your favourite. There are also a few more formal restaurants, e.g. New Lucky Star and Monorom (See "Sleep" section).

Drink

Places selling soft drinks and coconut water often have beer as well.

Sleep

There are a few guesthouses in town, in addition to the place near Ta Mok's mountain house. Ask the moto-taxi drivers for advice.

In town

Raksmey Angkor Guesthouse, Next to the '''Paramount Angkor Transport''' offices (not far north of the roundabout). A bit small and run-down, but run by a very nice family. Fan and attached toilet$5.

Sokhaith Guesthouse, opposite the man-made lake (about 600 m north of the roundabout), ☎011407585. A clean and spacious place. It lacks the pretentious adornments that Monrom and New Lucky Start boast, making it less appealing to Khmer politicians and business men and therefore more appealing to anyone who doesn't like watching fat, rich men take hookers to bed. Haggling is necessary to get a room for $5, the asking price of $7 for a room with a fan is not worth it given what else is in town. Air-con rooms are available (asking price from $10). The lakeside setting is a plus but comes at the price of being a little way from the centre.From $5.

New Lucky Star Guesthouse and Restaurant, Ochinchean Village (200 m east of the roundabout), ☎011407585. A clean, spacious and secure place. It has plenty of gregarious polished wooden furniture Air-con rooms are available. From $7.5.

Monrom Guesthouse and Restaurant, Opposite the hospital (head north from the roundabout), ☎011884736. The king of Khmer kitsch, this place has in your face furniture complemented tastefully with fairy lights. Rooms are clean and spacious. Air-con rooms are available ($15). From $8.

In the hills

Heng Heng Guest House, In Choam (Follow the sign posts in Choam market), ☎0656782121, 012426678. A new set of rooms in Choam. Air-con rooms are available ($15). From $9.

Contact

There is internet cafe. It is about 50 m north of the roundabout at the market. $0.75/ hr.

Get out

Preah Vihear apparently this can be included in a round trip trek of some sort from Komphong Thom.

Siem Reap and Angkor Archaeological Park. There is an 07:00 bus that leaves for Siem Reap. The only other options are an expensive private hire with a bike or car or shared taxis. If you take a shared taxi expect to be crammed in with many others. $5-$10 one way depending on how many passengers.

Thailand - in Choam, near Pol Pot's cremation site, one can cross to Chong Sa-Ngam in Thailand. The crossing is open to foreigners (07:00-20:00). On the Thai side, transport connections are fairly informal (i.e. hitching a lift with anything going is standard practice). More formal transport can be supplied by a Thai border guard called Iing, who can arrange taxis. Call him on 0819271191. The best option appears to be the minibuses and pickup trucks that take Thais to the casino in Choam. They should be able to get travellers to Khu Khan, the closest Thai town. Khu Khan has accommodation, banks, ATMs, and direct bus services to Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat), Pattaya, Rayong, Si Saket and Ubon Ratchathani. West-bound and Ubon-bound buses can be boarded at the junction of highways 24 and 2201, about 30 km from the border and about 15 km from Khu Khan. On the Cambodian side, motorbike drivers loiter near immigration and will get travellers into Anlong Veng for $3-4. Choam has at least one guesthouse, so do not worry about arriving at the border late, unless you get stuck on the Thai side, which has very little to offer, except an excellent swimming spot at a reservoir behind the shabby looking market.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!